Firefighters trying to keep blazes from spreading throughout the Los Angeles area are now facing hurricane-force winds in addition to flames. At least four major fires had engulfed large tracts of land in the metro areas north and west, with the Thomas Fire reaching 90,000 acres by Thursday morning. It is only 5% contained, according to Cal Fire authorities, with tempered hopes for progress throughout the day given a surge in the Santa Ana Winds. The winds are expected to reach 80 mph, roughly equivalent to a Category 1 hurricane, and Cal Fire said that there was an “extreme” increase in fire potential stretching south towards San Diego.